Lotus to build engine, aero kit for 2012

LOTUS TO BUILD ENGINE, AERO KIT FOR 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES
Manufacturer to join Honda, Chevrolet as competition heats up
A third automobile manufacturer will join the IZOD IndyCar Series in
2012, as Lotus will build an engine and aero kit for...

LOTUS TO BUILD ENGINE, AERO KIT FOR 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES
Manufacturer to join Honda, Chevrolet as competition heats up

A third automobile manufacturer will join the IZOD IndyCar Series in
2012, as Lotus will build an engine and aero kit for the next-generation
car in the series.

This will be the first time Lotus has produced an engine for IndyCar
competition. The addition of Lotus gives the IZOD IndyCar Series
manufacturer representation from the U.S. (Chevrolet), Europe (Lotus) and
Asia (Honda).

"Lotus is unique in the automotive world, no other car company has been
more successful in such a wide variety of motorsports discipline, whether
it is Le Mans, World Rally, Sportscars, F1 of course and IndyCar," said
Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus. "This year, we teamed up with KV Racing
for IndyCar and we will significantly increase our participation next
year. However in 2012 IndyCar competitors will have the exciting
opportunity to choose an IndyCar with a Lotus engine and body kit,
immediately become part of a legacy that is Lotus: one of the most
innovative and successful sports and racing car brands in the world."

Lotus will release engine specifications at a later date.

"Lotus is a renowned name in racing, with a long association with some of
the greatest names of motorsports," said Randy Bernard, CEO of INDYCAR.
"We're honored Lotus has chosen to serve as an engine manufacturer for
the first time with us.

"We are excited about the future of Indy car racing with the addition of
Chevrolet and Lotus as well as the continued involvement of our longtime
engine supplier Honda. The IZOD IndyCar Series has the fastest, most
versatile cars and drivers in the world, and now we have engine
competition to provide even more excitement for our fans."

Lotus, based in Norfolk, England, has competed in a variety of
motorsports disciplines since the legendary Colin Chapman founded the
company in 1952, including Indy car racing, Formula One and sports cars.
Jim Clark drove a Lotus chassis to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500,
and Lotus sponsored the KV Racing Technology car driven by rookie Takuma
Sato in the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series.

"The history and DNA of Lotus is all about extracting the most
performance out of a car in return for maximum efficiency, and we are
delighted to offer our engine and aero body kit to the 2012 IZOD IndyCar
Series," said Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport. "We will be
using the knowledge gained from our extensive research into E85 biofuel
and turbo-charged engines to ensure we extract the maximum performance.

"As you would expect from the company that pioneered aerodynamics in
sports car and F1 racing over the years our aero body kit will also be a
world class solution, So all in all, will the 2012 Lotus IndyCar will be
as innovative and revolutionary as the Lotus Type 38 that won in 1965 and
changed Indy forever? Maybe - we'll have to wait and see!"

The IZOD IndyCar Series announced in June that that its next generation
of engines would be more powerful and efficient than the current formula
- along with being relevant to the public and automobile industry.

The 2012 platform allows manufacturers to produce engines with a maximum
of six cylinders. The engines will be turbo charged producing between 550
and 700 horsepower to suit the diverse set of tracks on which the IZOD
IndyCar Series competes. All engines will run on E85 with additional
details on the fuel platform to be announced at a later date.

The new engine strategy was based on a recommendation from the ICONIC
(Innovative, Open-Wheel, New, Industry-Relevant, Cost-Effective) Advisory
Committee, which was tasked with reviewing, researching and making a
recommendation to the sanctioning body on the next generation IZOD
IndyCar Series engine and chassis.